24 – 27 MAY 2012
GOLD COAST – AUSTRALIA

‘Exporter of the Year’, Aqualuma awarded for marketing strategy

 
 
The 2011 Club Marine Australian Marine Industry Export Awards, organized by the Australian International Marine Export Group (AIMEX) were announced at the AIMEX and Club Marine annual networking function during the Sydney International Boat Show.
 
Sponsored by Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, the ‘Best Marine Industry Export Marketing Strategy’ category was won by Aqualuma Marine Lighting, who also took out the prestigious ‘Exporter of the Year’ award and highly commended in the ‘Most Innovative Marine Industry Exported Product’ category.
 
Despite the global financial situation, Aqualuma has defied odds and maintained their strong and strategic global marketing plan as well as expanding their product range and successfully delivering this to the market in 2010. Aqualuma attend a number of key international boat shows as part of their marketing strategy, including a major presence at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.
 
Aqualuma is the world's leading marine interior and underwater light manufacturer. Since 2004, Aqualuma has redefined the underwater light industry with their superior technology and high quality products. Aqualuma’s iconic thru-hull range is the world’s first and only underwater light range with a one piece housing unit that has no lens or seals. All Aqualuma lights feature LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology.
 
Based on Queensland’s Gold Coast, Aqualuma has grown to become a global company which operates sales, service centres in Europe, Asia, Oceania and the Americas. Patented worldwide and distributed in over 30 Countries, Aqualuma’s products remain proudly designed and manufactured in Australia.
 
Of the win, Director, Carl Amor said he and his team were “surprised and ecstatic”.
 
“We just do our thing. We have a lot on at the moment, with quite a few new products to release before the end of the year. We are very pleased to have won among such strong competition, and grateful to Sanctuary Cove for sponsoring the award.”
 
With several international boat shows approaching, Aqualuma has begun using its award wins in its marketing. “We are adding these awards to our branding and on our new booths,” said Carl, referring to the 6 x 3 booth with six LED-lit towers they unveiled at Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show.
 
“The new booth obviously helped with the marketing Award win. Despite the downturn, we have always kept up our marketing. We have been a little more cautious, but we haven’t stopped investing in boat shows. We now have three of those booths – one bound for Europe and another for the US and one here – so we can have them at all the major boat shows.”
 
Referring to the 2011 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, Carl reported the company had “a good show”. “The new booth gave us a whole new look, and all in all we made a lot of good contacts. It’s our local show, so we can take all our staff and actually make the best use of the show, as opposed to my doing METS each year on my own.”
 
Sue Thomson general manager marketing and events at Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, who presented the award to Carl and Grant, described the company and its products as “innovative and pioneering”.
 
“Despite challenging times, Aqualuma focused on strategic branding opportunities and investment in its presence at boat shows, maintaining its profile in key domestic and overseas markets,” she said.
 
“We are proud to sponsor this category which recognises the dedication of our exporters to reach global markets and sustain their branding in those various markets.”